AT 83-years old Giorgio Armani is one of the most respected designers in the industry. And his AW18 collection was an ode to that. Taking the more relaxed and at ease-woman as his inspiration, Armani’s AW18 collection featured loose silhouettes, modest draping, and block colours. As the show progressed more daring moves were made with textile, print and colour choice, culminating in the loose-fitting tailored suit that was embellished with gems from head to toe and paired with a sparkly hat, sparkly embroidered gloves and sparkly pointed shoes. The number of hours painstakingly spent placing each shiny crystal in the desired position head-to-toe are beyond us. Looks such as these reminded us that Giorgio Armani isn’t afraid to get hands-on and display the best of his abilities at once when it comes to design.
The use of oversized hats, thigh-high lace-up point boots, and lots of velvet and ribbon made us wonder whether Armani had taken inspiration from the early 1900s when designing this collection. A modern take, admittingly, but a strong reference point either way. The fur arm warmers and oversized scarfs added to the reference. In terms of a geographical reference, the show varied between Western, Middle East, and a touch of Russian influences.
With 96 looks, the AW18 collection transitioned from a pale and pastel palette to teal, green, pink, blues, and blacks. With this transition came a transition from day to nightwear. Sequins, crystal embellishment, and faux fur spurred the collection into luxury and elegance. The darker looks, on closer inspection, featured intricate panels, fringed edges, butterfly embellished sleeves and beaded sheer material.
With a variety of textiles, designs, and culture reference points, the Giorgio Armani AW18 show was a strong display of the many techniques the design house has picked up during its 40-odd years of existence. Keeping the show simple and free of any props and obstructions guided the audience to what really mattered for Giorgio Armani; the design. Armani brought the many cultures, the many people, and the many designs of this world into perspective.
by Lily Rimmer